Lollis retires as police chief with crime on the decline in city

Saturday

Dec 1, 2012 at 12:01 AM

It seems entirely fitting that the last week on the job for retiring Lexington Police Chief John Lollis came at the same time his department presented statistics showing a 13 percent drop in crime for the first six months of the year. That decline is part of a 40 percent decrease in criminal acts that occurred during Lollis' seven years in charge, a figure that will stand as his ultimate legacy. To see such a reduction is a testament to the way Lollis organized the department and the hard work of his officers.

It seems entirely fitting that the last week on the job for retiring Lexington Police Chief John Lollis came at the same time his department presented statistics showing a 13 percent drop in crime for the first six months of the year. That decline is part of a 40 percent decrease in criminal acts that occurred during Lollis' seven years in charge, a figure that will stand as his ultimate legacy. To see such a reduction is a testament to the way Lollis organized the department and the hard work of his officers.In addition to the drop in crime, Lollis, who served 37 years with the department, also oversaw the construction of an impressive training center and firing range, a much-needed addition to the department, creation of a crime scene unit and redesign of patrol cars' paint scheme. The praise he received from others in the law enforcement and judicial fields served as a testimony to the respect he garnered and the caliber of professional he was. Perhaps City Manager John Gray offered the best tribute to Lollis' tenure: "I know he is going to be the very best police chief we have ever had."Also stepping off the public stage, at least for now, is county commissioner Cathy Dunn. Dunn, who led the Republican ticket in 2008, decided not to seek re-election this year to focus on her business, Biscuit King. Governing bodies ideally will contain a diversity of representatives, and Dunn served as the only woman on the board. She also developed a passion for issues concerning Alcoa's efforts to obtain a new license for operating four dams on the Yadkin River and the Davidson County Animal Shelter. When far too many politicians seem power hungry and negative, Dunn brought a sense of grace to the board.Another outgoing female politician made perhaps her final visit to Davidson County as governor. Bev Perdue spent time in Thomasville on Thursday honoring Thomasville City Schools for its use of technology. Taking advantage of technology doesn't automatically make a school system successful, but it can play a key role in helping students learn. In Thomasville's case, the technology has coincided with a strong high school completion rate and increase in math and reading scores, which drew the governor's attention.Two major fires — one that burned 115 acres on Bald Mountain and another that destroyed four buildings and displaced a family of five in Denton — remind residents to use extreme caution when burning. Foul play wasn't suspected in either fire, but they show how quickly a fire can spread. It only takes one gust of wind for a fire to suddenly go out of control. When rainfall is sparse and conditions become dry, it's especially important to observe warnings about burning and not take a chance of a fire turning destructive.